Apparatus for beading or flaring metal tubing



, June 3, 1947. H, v ET AL 2,421,667

APPARATUS FOR BEADING 0R FLARING METAL TUBING Filed March 10, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS E. VE MIL ATTORNEY June 3, 1947.

H. E. VEIT ET AL APPARATUS FOR BEADING OR FLARING METAL TUBING Filed March 10, 1945 3 Sheets- Sheet 3 FIG.5

INVENTORS HERMANN E.VE|T WELDON C.M|LES ATTORNEY Patented June 3,, 1947 APPARATUS FOR BEADING OR FLARING METAL TUBING Hermann E. Veit, Towson, and Weldon C. Miles,

Baltimore, Md., assignors to The Glen L. Martin Company, Middle River, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application March 10, 1945, Serial No. 582,008

8 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to an improved machine for forming a bead or flare on a tubular member and more particularly a machin characterized by a motor driven forming tool having an eccentric path the eccentricity of which can be controlled while in operation.

The present day wide use of light thin walled tubing in the aircraft industry has created the need for an efficient method of forming a head or flare on the end of sections of such tubing preparatory to their being joined together or held by a. fitting. These tubes are usuall formed of aluminum or aluminum alloy materials, which materials lend themselves readily to being spun into the desired shapes with resultant smooth uniform edges of uniform thickness. The tubes common to the aircraft industry are both large and small in diameter and are often formed with curves and angles close to the ends which allows a very short working area on which to form the bead or flare. These characteristics of the material to be worked require that the forming machine be capable of handling large as well as small tubes formed with comparatively short working areas.

Our invention provides an apparatus for rolling a bead near the end of a tube wherein the apparatus includes a driving shaft coupled to a housing or tool cylinder to permit limited angular motion of the tool cylinder with respect to the axis of the shaft. The tool cylinder is provided with a chamber eccentric of a shaft axis to receive a tool holder eccentric of the tool axis. The eccentric arrangement of tool cylinder and tool holder combined with the angular movement coupling between the cylinder and driving shaft is such that a braking r retarding action applied to the cylinder moves the tool from a position coaxial with the shaft into a widening circular path about said shaft axis whereby the tool engages the interior tube wall. The diameter of the circular path is controlled by the amount of braking applied to the cylinder and may be maintained constant so that the extent and character of the tube working may be conveniently and accurately controlled by the operator.

It is among the objects of our invention to provide improved means for forming a bead or flare on the end of a tubular member wherein a tool is 'rotatably mounted in a cylinder arranged to rotate said tool in circular paths of controlled increasing circumference about the axis of the cylinder.

lar member by progressively working a small area of the metal so as to eliminate undue strain Still another object of our invention is to provide a bead and flare forming machine in which the forming tools are readily interchangeable.

Other objects of our invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numbers refer to like parts in the different views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is asmall perspective view of the machine of our invention assembled within a housing and driven by a geared electric motor;

Figure 2 is a skeletonized section intended to show relationship of controls to the manually operated lever; ti Figure 3 is a top plan view with parts insec- Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view of the tool cylinder assembly with the tool concentric with the tube and driving shaft;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view of the cylinder with the tool in eccentric or working posiion;

Figure 6 is an exploded sectional view of the cylinder unit;

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the floating coupling between the drive shaft and the tool holder;

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine for beading and flaring a metal tubu- Figure 8 is a section view on the line 8-8 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is an elevation of a flaring tool adapted for use in our invention;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of an end section of a tube with a bead formed according to our invention;

Figure 11 is a sectional view of two tubes beaded by said machine and joined together with a rubber sleeve; 1

Figure 12 is a sectional view of a section of a tube with a flared end formed by the present machine and positioned inside of a conventional type of fitting.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates our invention in its preferred form as a machine mounted on a base i and having a direct connection with a driving power unit 2 which consists of a suitable reduction geared electric motor positioned to operate through coupling 38 and rotate the drive shaft 30 (shown in subsequent figures). In this. form the machine may be mounted on a bench, or like support, of the proper height for eflicient operation. Mounted on the base i and with fixed relationship to the operative parts of the machine are transverse supporting frame members 25 and 26 (Figure 3). The frame members 25 and 25 extend across the frame normally to the drive shaft 36 and provide support for the bearings, the tube die holding chuck and the brake operating mechanism. The drive shaft 30 isconnected to the source of power by a coupling 3% and is revolvably mounted in the tool cylinder l6 (Figures 3, 4 and 5). which is constructed and arranged to carry a beading or flaring tool, in an orbital path whereby it engages and works a tube inserted into the forming die as hereinafter described.

The tube 3 to be worked is inserted directly into the segmental forming die t placed at the end of the machine as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The rolling of the metal of the tube, as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 5, is a bead forming operation and is accomplished by the tool H which projects beyond the tool holder into the open end of the tube and works the metal thereof outwardly into the die d. Said tool ii is caused by the eccentricity of the tool cylinder and tool holder during the operation to describe progressively increasing circular paths against the inside of the tube 3 held by the die i. A protective cover 5 is cut-back suiflciently to allow free access to the operating parts to permit quick and emeient change of the working tool and die as well as the ready insertion of the tube end to be worked. For efilciency the controlling mechanism of the machine is so arranged as to be within the reach of the operator while standing in one position so that he may position the tube 3 to be worked in the die 4 with his left hand and pull back on operating lever i with his right hand, eifecting high speed operation. The tube in the position shown is arranged in the die 6 in axial alignment with the forming tool ii prior to control actuation.

In the view of the machine as illustrated by Figure 3 we show the mechanism in full on position. The tool ii is in spinning position forming a bead on the end of a tube 3 to conform to the bead groove in die 4. The segments of the die 4 are brought together to fit snugly around said tube 3 by the action of linkage operating through crank connector 8 upon the screw chuck ring 2| actuated through handle 1 moved manually to position by the operator. In the released position the tool ll becomes centered where it idly spins concentrically free of the walls of the tube.

The die 4 is compressed to a closed position snugly encompassing the tube 8 by the radially inward pressure exerted upon the die parts by screw chuck ring 2i actuated by lever I through crank connector 8 attached to the chuck ring 2| by pin 9 and held by locking key In. The screw chuck ring 2! is exteriorly threaded and interiorly beveled so as to wedge against and force the segmental parts of die 4 into a contracted or minimum diameter forming position, against the action of springs 22. The ring 2! is posi- 4 porting block 23 ailixed to standard 2' by bolts 24, or the like. The thrust of die '4 is absorbed by block 23 and bearing ring 48, as illustrated in Figure 3. The movement of the ring 2i and associated die parts is attained coincidentally with the braking mechanism by the interconnection of lever I through the linkage shown in Figures 2 and 3 consisting of an adjustable rod assembly i2 connected by clevis I! to the brake arm It anchored at one end to a cross bar iii. Said brake arm I4 is arranged to bring the brake shoe 5!! in frictional engagement with the exterior surface of tool cylinder it (Figure 3) by means of the pull exerted on lever I by the operator during the beading operation. The rotatable shaft 6 projects beyond support 28 and carries on its projecting end a crank arm it so that motion of lever l eflects simultaneous chucking and braking.

When the lever l is moved forward at the end of the forming operation, the braking pressure exerted upon the cylinder is is released and the brake is is returned to a released position clear of the cylinder It by the spring tension of spring il (Figures 2 and 3). To provide flexibility and insure smooth Joint actuation of the tube die chuck and the brake we have provided a pinand-slot connection 5l-52 between the end fitting 20' of rod 53 and the crank iii. chucking motion is transmitted from the pin N to the rod 53 through the medium of spring l9 carried by the fitting 20 so that the die parts are resiliently urged to contracted, or chucking position, without positive control by the final positioning of the lever ii operating the brake. Indication of the closed chuck-brakeon position is shown by the indicia "oi?" and on" on machine cover 5 (Figure 1).

It is to be understood that at the time the tube is inserted into the die 6 in open position the forming tool ii is in place with power drive 2 energized, with the operating lever l in forward position, the forming tool it will be idly rotating with the cylinder I6 co-axial with the forming die 4. The tube 3 is held in position by the operator within the die 6 with the end stopped by the shoulder of the forming tool ii. The cycle of working operation is accomplished by moving the brake shoe 50 against the outer peripheryof cylinder l6 (Figures 2 and 3), which retards (but does not stop) rotation of said cylinder l6.v Retarding cylinder l6 causes the cup 4i (Figures 4 and 5) holding the tool II to be moved gradually and smoothly to a position eccentric of the driving shaft 30, forcing the tool to be carried in progressively increasing circular paths against the material to .be worked into the die. This arrangement of the operating mechanism provides for positive positioning of the spinning tool in different circular paths by the operator. Manual control of the retarding force applied to cylinder It permits the spinning tool II to be held in any desired circular path about the axis of the cylinder body for an indefinite operating period. Manual release of the retarding force results in immediate return of the tool i I to a centered position clear of the walls of the tube 3. The flexibility obtained by this feature is particularly advantageous in working tubes of varying sizes, wall thicknesses and hardness characteristics in that it provides for close control over the rate of flow of the metal being worked. It is to be distinguished over the prior art machines in which the tioned within the receiving screw threads of sup- N power unit for the working tool rotates the tool in an orbital path wherein the power unit eifects a constantly changing radius.

The forming tool derives its rotary motion in contact with the tube as the tool is carried in its circular path by the revolvable cylinder l6 journaled in anti-friction bearings 21 and 21' mounted in supporting standards 25 and 28. The

cylinder is formed of metal, or like material, with.

two cavities; one cavity 28 concentric of axisof the cylinder body and the other cavity 29 eccentric of the axis of the cylinder body I6. Said cavity 28 is formed to receive driving shaft 38, the larger diameter thereof being provided with a shoulder terminating in two spaced stops 3| and 3|. The stops are positioned on the periphery of shaft 38 to allow for approximately a onehalf revolution of said shaft 38 in either direction before either of said stops makes contact with the stop 32 carried by the cylinder I6. The last named stop consists of a pin protruding inwardly of cavity 28 in the path of stops 3| and 3|. The above described arrangement provides for limited movement of the cylinder IS with respect to shaft 38 in response to braking action whereby eccentric position of the tool holder is obtained.

The shaft 38 is driven in a clockwise direction (Figure 8) by the power unit. The cylinder I6 is normally urged by spring 33 in a clockwise directionso as to rotate with theshaft 38 in the same clockwise direction. One end namely the outer convolution of the spring is anchored to the cylinder as at 35 and the other end is anchored to the shaft as at 34 to accomplish the resilient driving arrangement between the shaft 38 and the cylinder l6. Figure 8 illustrates the position of the cylinder and shaft where the cylinder is urged in a clockwise direction with respect to the shaft as limited by the stop 3| thereof. This position corresponds to that assumed by the parts prior to a retarding of the cylinder I6 by the brake. Thus the brake retarding of the cylinder advances the shaft with respect to the cylinis rotatably mounted in cavity 29. A ridge 4'! is formed at the base of tool holder cup 4| to slidably fit in the groove 55 formed in coupling 48 so that cup 4| is rotated by shaft 38 throughout the range of eccentricity of cup 4| with respect to 38.

The cup 4| is formed to provide a tool cavity 58 eccentric of the cup body axis so that when the cup 4| is rotated inside of cavity 29 the axial center line of cup 4| is concentric or eccentric to the axial center line of shaft 38 as determined by the relative positioning of stops 3|, 3 and 32. A bearing ring 56 is provided at the base of cup 4| to take end thrust from the tool ll. Braking force applied to the outside periphery of cylinder I8 causes shaft 38 to advance approximately one half a revolution with respect to the cylinder as they both rotate in unison in the same direction.

To allow for freedom of tool rotation, which adds greatly to its smoothness of operation, the tool II is preferably journaled in anti-friction bearings 42 and 42, spaced from each other by ring 48, inside of the cup 4|. The tool may be held in position by snap ring 43 or the like. The tool cup assembly is held against axial movement by a retaining plate 45 secured with screws 46. Other tools such as a flaring tool 44 as illustrated in Figure 9 are interchangeable with tool II by insertion into the socket formed by the bearings 42 and 42'.

Our preferred embodiment is illustrated as a beading machine to produce ahead on a tube 3 such as that illustrated in Figure 10. The bead is useful in joining two tubes together through the f medium of a rubber coupling 51, as shown in der against'the spring action until the cylinder is positively driven in unison by the stop 3| of the shaft.

It will be observed that the cavity 29 being eccentric of the axis of the cylinder body l6 has its own axis, namely, the axis of the cavity 29 carried in a circular path about the axis of the cylinder body during rotation of said body. The cavity carries the cup 4| with it in said circular path. Therefore, the axis of the body of the cup 4| describes said circular path. The cup is provided with a tool cavity 58 housing the tool and tool bearings. This tool cavity 58 is eccentric of theaxis of the cup body by an amount sufficient to bring the axis of the tool cavity 58 into alignment with the axis of the cylinder i8 when the cylinder is advanced with respect to shaft 38 as shown in Figures 4 and 8. c 1

When the cylinder is retarded however, so. as to be displaced angularly with respect to the cup 4|, the axis of the tool cavity 58 is moved by the cup from alignment with the axis of the cylinder body l6. Thus the tool cavity and the tool carried thereby travel in a circular path about the axis of shaft 38 to effect beading of the tube 3.

The shaft 38 is held against axial movement by retaining plate 36 provided with spanner wrench sockets 31. The driving end of shaft 38 is provided with a slot 39 formed transversely to the axis of the shaft 38 and arranged to engage with the square shouldered protrusion of a coupling member 48. Coupling 48 is formed to provide a floating drive between shaft 38 and cup 4| which Figure 11. It will be understood, however, that the machine of our invention will work ends of tubing, pipes, or the like, into other forms such as a flare end tube 54, illustrated in Figure 12; It will be appreciated that the rolling operation for such other forms is functionally the same and may be effected merely by a change in the shape of the tool and the cooperating die. The form of tool and die holders allows for quick interchange of tools effecting economies in the various finished products.

Although our invention has been shown and described in considerable detail it will be appreciated that certain changes, alterations, modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a machine for forming a bead or flare on a tubular member, a driving shaft, a tool cylinder driven by said shaft through a coupling providing limited angular motion of the tool cylinder with respect to the axis of the shaft, said tool cylinder having a cavity eccentric of the shaft axis, a tool holderrotatably mounted in said cavity, a metal working tool mounted in said tool holder, a die to receive a tubular member arranged over the end of said metal working tool, means to frictionally engage the tool cylinder and retard rota tion of said tool cylinder with respect to the shaft and move the metal working tool from a position co-axial with the driving shaft into a progressively increasing circular path about said shaft axis to engage the interior wall of the tube.

2. In a machine for forming a bead or flare on a tubular member, a driving shaft, a tool cylinder adapted to be driven by said drive shaft through a coupling providing limited angular motion of the tool cylinder with respect to the axis of the shaft, said tool cylinder having a cavity eccentric axis eccentric of the axis of the tool carried thereby rotatably mounted in said cavity in the tool cylinder, 8, metal working tool operatively secured in said tool holder, a die to receive and hold a tubular member to be worked with the open end of the tube surrounding said tool, a braking means to engage the tool cylinder to retard rotation of said tool cylinder with respect to the driving shaft whereby the eccentricity of the cylinder cavity and tool holder moves the working tool from a position in alignment with the driving shaft into progressively increasing circular paths and thereby into engagement with the interior wall of the tube,

3. In a machine for forming a, bead or flare on a tubular member, a driving shaft, a tool cylinder driven by said shaft through a coupling providing limited angular motion of the tool cylinder with respect to the axis of the shaft, said tool cylinder having a cavity eccentric of the shaft axis, a tool-holder rotatably mounted in said chamber, a metal working tool mounted in said tool holder, a tube holding chuck mounted in alignment with the driving shaft and surrounding the end of the tool, means to engage the tool cylinder to retard rotation thereof, and a manually operable linkage connecting said chuck and means, for joint actuation, to hold the tube and move the tool from a position in alignment with the driving shaft into a circular path effecting tool engagement with the inner wall of the tube.

4. In a machine for forming a bead or flare on a tubular member, a driving shaft, a tool cylinder adapted to be driven by said drive shaft through a coupling providing limited angular motion of the tool cylinder with respect to the axis of the shaft, said tool cylinder having a cavity eccentric of the shaft axis, a tool holder having its axis eccentric of the axis of the tool carried thereby rotatably mounted in said cavity in the tool cylinder, 8. metal working tool operatively secured in said tool holder, a tube holding chuck mounted in alignment with the driving shaft and surrounding the end of the tool, means to engage the tool cylinder to retard rotation thereof, and a manually operable linkage connecting said chuck and means, for joint actuation, to hold the tube and move the tool from a position in alignment with the driving shaft into a circular path and into engagement with the inner wall of the tube.

5. A machine for forming a bead in the wall of a tubular member comprising, a rotating shaft, a tool cylinder having a co-axial cavity in one end to receive said shaft, interengaging stops on the shaft and cylinder to provide forlimited angular movement of said shaft with respect to the tool cylinder, spring means between said tool cylinder and said shaft urging the cylinder angularly in the direction of shaft rotation, a cylindrical cavity formed in the other end of the tool cylinder eccentric to the axis of the drive shaft, a tool holding member carrying a tool eccentric of the axis of the member mounted in said last named cavity means operably connecting said shaft and tool holding member, a brake arranged to retard the rotation of said cylinder member whereby the drive shaft is caused to advance angularly with respect to said tool cylinder within the limits provided by said stops and effect movement of the tool from a position in alignment with the shaft into a circular path co-axial therewith.

6. A machine for forming a bead in the wall of a tubular member comprising a rotating shaft, a tool cylinder having a co-axial cavity in one end to receive said shaft, interengaging stops on d the shaft and cylinder to provide for limited angular movement of said shaft with respect to the tool cylinder, spring means between said tool cylinderand said shaft urging the cylinder angularly in the direction of shaft rotation, a cylindrical cavity formed in the other end of the tool cylinder eccentric to the axis of the drive shaft, an eccentric rotatable tool holding member mounted in said last named cavity, means operably connecting said shaft and tool holding member, a brake arranged to retard the rotation of said cylinder member whereby the drive shaft is caused to advance inside of said tool cylinder as controlled by said stops and move the eccentrically formed tool holding member from concentric to eccentric position, a beading tool mounted in said holding member and projecting therefrom into the tube to be worked, a tube die having an annular cavity, said die mounted adjacent the beading tool arranged to receive and hold the end portion of the tube while the metal of the tube is being rolled intov the annular cavity of the die as said beading tool moves from its concentric to eccentric position.

7. A machine for enlarging a portion of a tube adjacent the end section thereof comprising, a base, having transverse supporting members, a tool cylinder formed with a concentric axial cavity in one end and an eccentric axial cavity in the opposite end rotatably mounted in said supporting members, a shaft mounted in said concentric cavity to provide for limited rotary motion of the cylinder with respect to the shaft, a tool holding member positioned inside of said eccentric cavity in said tool cylinder, a tool carried by said member with the tool axis eccentric of the axis of said member the eccentrically formed cavity and the eccentrically arranged tool cooperating to effect travel of the tool in a circular path determined by the limits of the rotary motion of the cylinder with respect to the shaft, a floating coupling between said tool carrying member and said shaft to turn said member throughout its range of eccentricity with respect to the shaft, a member positioned to retard the rotation of the tool cylinder and establish travel of the tool in said circular path, a die comprising a plurality of parts embracing the end section of the tubular member, a chuck engaging said die parts and holding the parts around the walls of the tubular member.

8. A machine for enlarging an end section of a tubular member comprising, a base having transverse supporting members, a tool cylinder formed with a concentric axial cavity in one end and an eccentric axial cavity in the opposite end rotatably mounted in said supporting members, a shaft mounted in said concentric cavity to provide for limited rotary motion of the cylinder with respect to the shaft, a tool holding member positioned inside of said eccentric cavity in said tool cylinder, a tool carried by said member with the tool axis eccentric of the axis of said member, the eccentrically formed cavity and the eccentrically arranged tool cooperating to effect travel of the tool in a circular path determined by the limits of the rotary motion of the cylinder with respect to the shaft, a floating couplin between said tool carrying member and said shaft to turn said member throughout its range of eccentricity with respect to the shaft, a member positioned to retard the rotation of the tool cylinder and establish travel of the tool in said circular path, a die comprising 9 a plurality of parts embracing the end section of the tubular member, a. chuck engaging said die parts and holding the parts around the walls 01' the tubular member, a manually operable linkage connecting the chuck and retarding means to provide simultaneous operation of said v chuck and travel of the tool.

HERMANN E. VEIT. WELDON C. MILES.

10 nmmnnncns crrnn The following references are 'of record in the tile or this patent:

Number 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Strachauer et a1. Dec. 24, 1929 Doolittle Aug. 2, 1904 Doolittle Feb. 5, 1907 Williams et a1 Sept. 24, 1940 

